Ski & Snowboard Festivals are taking place Nov 6-7 in San Francisco & Nov 13-14 in Silicon Valley. This is a must-attend event if you're a Ski or Snowboard fan. The San Francisco General Admission Tickets are available to all ages and only include access to the festival and it's components. General Admission Tickets will also include access to the Rail Jam, Winter Sale and Tahoe Job Fair. You will also receive 3 free lift tickets with a general admission ticket purchase.V.I.P. tickets include all the benefits of General Admission PLUS a free commemorative wine or beer glass and unlimited beer or wine tasting from 1pm - 5pm. Ticket information is here.

She lists recipes for Coconut-Curry Sauce, Kale Chips, Pizza, Puddings, and Cheesecake along with a great background on Pantry ingredients..and their health benefits!I'm not a raw vegan, however, I believe it's important to eat less processed food.

Farm Sanctuary's Orland, CA California Shelter will again feature their great event: Celebration FOR the Turkeys, a compassionate holiday benefit for our feathered friends. Also, Ellen DeGeneres is the official spokesperson for the Celebration FOR the Turkey's event:

Researchers have identified more than 20 distinct vocalizations in wild turkeys.

Turkeys have excellent geography skills and can learn the specific details of an area of more than 1,000 acres.

Like cats and dogs, turkeys are intelligent and sensitive animals who form strong social bonds and show great affection to others.

On factory farms, turkeys frequently have the ends of their beaks and toes cut off without anesthesia — practices know as debeaking and detoeing — to prevent them from injuring one another as they are crowded by the thousands into dark, filthy warehouses.

Between 1965 and 2000, the weight of the average turkey raised commercially in the U.S. increased by 57 percent, from an average of 18 pounds to an average of 28.2 pounds, causing commercially-bred turkeys to suffer from crippling foot and leg problems.

Completely unlike their wild ancestors not only in terms of physique but also in hue, most commercial turkeys are totally white — the natural bronze color selectively bred out of them to eliminate uneven pigment colorations — because of consumer preference for even flesh tones.

Also catering to consumer preferences for “white meat,” the industry has selectively bred turkeys to have abnormally large breasts. This anatomical manipulation makes it difficult for male turkeys to mount the females, eliminating these birds’ ability to reproduce naturally. As a result, artificial insemination is now the sole means of reproduction on factory farms, where breeder birds are confined for months on end.

Turkeys, along with other poultry, are not protected by the federal Humane Slaughter Act, and are frequently killed without first being stunned.

Every year, more than 46 million turkeys are killed for Thanksgiving holiday dinners, but it doesn’t have to be this way. If you think these birds are as incredible as we do, you can join talk show host and animal advocate Ellen DeGeneres, Farm Sanctuary’s 2010 Adopt-A-Turkey Project spokesperson, in starting a new tradition this year by adopting a turkey instead of eating. Visit adoptaturkey.org for details or call the Turkey Adoption Hotline at 1-888-SPONSOR

Did you knowthat one in five of the world's 380,000 plant species is threatened with extinction and human activity is doing most of the damage, according to a global study published on Wednesday? The study found that agriculture, development, logging, and using land for livestock were among the main reasons plant species were being threatened. More information ishere.

Are you going to be in Paris November 28 2010? Gratitude Gourmetis pleased to be a Media Sponsor forParis Vegan Day 2010.Paris Vegan Day's activities will include culinary, fashion, health, and athletic events along with a concert with vegan musicians! Paris Vegan Day will also be holding a raffle.I wish I could be there in person -C'est la vie :-), however, if you attend please share your updates and pictures on Facebook and Twitter.

SunRidge Farms has been a long time supporter of wildlife preservation and sustainable farming and has partnered with Defenders of Wildlife in an effort to help preserve and protect animals and plants throughout the world. In addition to its annual donation, SunRidge Farms is now donating 1 percent of sales from its newest all natural product, Antioxidant Mix, to Defenders of Wildlife.Packed with protein, fiber, and antioxidants Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, lycopene, and beta carotene, Berries and Chocolate Antioxidant Mix is 100 percent vegetarian. All natural, without artificial flavorings and preservatives, the mix includes a hand-selected blend of sun-ripened blueberries, dark chocolate stars, freshly roasted almonds, walnuts, cranberries, cherries, cashews and peanuts. This product is so delicious and nutritious, it didn't last very long in our household :-)All products, including this newest Antioxidant Mix, are made in a sustainable, solar-powered manufacturing plant in Pajaro, California, and are shipped using the company’s fleet of biodiesel delivery trucks.“We’re grateful to have the support of environmental stewards like SunRidge Farms,” said Rodger Schlickeisen, President and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife, an organization dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities. “The company has donated more than $20,000 to Defenders over the past two years, and sets a model for progressive business leaders around the globe.” Antioxidant Mix is available at retail outlets throughout the United States and online at the www.SunRidgeFarms.com and the Defenders of Wildlife Online Marketplace.

Gratitude Gourmet has featured a variety of wine tasting events, and it's been fun to partake in blind tastings and discover the diversity of 'terroir' flavor profiles. I've written about Peets coffee in the past, and I really enjoy the Uzuri African Blend, which is shown in this picture. Many of my Readers have also become addicted to it :-) Here's some great news!

Peets wins United Nations Association Global Citizen Award!Peet’s Coffee & Tea was just recognized by the East Bay Chapter of the United Nations Association with a Global Citizen Award during the UN’s 65th Anniversary celebration and UNA's 5th Annual Global Citizen Awards dinner Oct. 24 at the University of California Berkeley. For its efforts related to the UN’s Millennium Development Goal to combat global poverty and hunger, Peet's Coffee was acknowledged for its work in East Africa with nonprofit TechnoServe to improve sustainable agriculture, increase farmer income and alleviate poverty. Peet’s newest coffee blend, Uzuri African Blend is the result of these achievements.

Uzuri (pronounced OO-zur-ee) African Blend sources from and benefits 16,000 small-scale farmers in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Ethiopia. Peet’s Coffee & Tea donated hundreds of hours of volunteer time in the region, providing the farmers with hands-on training to improve the quality of their coffee. As a result of achieving high-quality standards, these farmers now earn 30 percent more for their crop, helping to elevate their lives out of poverty and make possible much-needed basics like education and health care.“We are grateful that our work in East Africa has been instrumental in aiding small-scale farmers,” said Shirin Moayyad, Peet’s director of coffee buying. “Receiving the Global Citizen Award from the East Bay Chapter of the UNA is an honor and we hope to continue sourcing coffee from this region to continue the support for the community.”Congrats to Peets!

Have you ever tried a Coffee Tasting?Recently, I've been experimenting with Peets' Sumatra and Columbia coffees as well, and enjoying the flavor profiles of the different 'terroirs'. Do you want to have your own Coffee Tasting?

Equipment Needed If you're doing a coffee tasting, you can usePress Pots to keep the individual flavors intact.Coffee Next you want to pick your coffees. Peets offers aCoffee selector page that provides Region, Description, Liveliness, and Body information which can help you find a coffee. Coffee TastingStep 1: Smell the CoffeeStart by smelling the coffee when it's freshly ground, then smell the brewed coffee to compare the two aromas. Besides the obvious coffee smell, what does each aroma remind you of? A plant or flower? Wood? Earth? Use your nose to give your mouth a preview and leave your mind wide open.Step 2: Taste the CoffeeGet the fullest flavor by slurping the brew. Take the coffee into your mouth so that it spreads evenly over the entire surface of your tongue and reaches all your taste buds at once. It is important to taste both at drinking temperature and again as it cools to detect flavor distinctions.Step 3: Compare CoffeesTaste several different coffees side by side showcasing the uniqueness of each. Change tasting order to uncover additional flavors. Take your time, taste and taste again and enjoy the nuances of each coffee.

PairingsIf you're interested in having Food Pairings with your coffee, you can try non-dairy coffee cake, cheesecake, and chocolate!Here's a Coffee Cake Recipe you can use along with a Video on how to make it!What's your favorite?What coffee or food pairing is your favorite, please share what worked for you...and what didn't! Cheers!

Join Gratitude Gourmet at Domaine Chandon for the 5th annual Pink Party benefiting breast cancer treatments at the local Queen of the Valley Medical Foundation. Dress in your finest pink attire and sip pink bubbly while savoring pink-hued appetizers from étoile Restaurant and dancing to the sounds of DJ Dukes. Vegetarian options will include potato fingerlings with a variety of dips and vegetable nibbles.A wonderful selection of Napa Valley wine and luxury products will be available for purchase through the Silent Auction held at the beginning of the evening. From its inception, the Pink Party has focused on partnering with local and national charities to raise money for this important cause and has become the most popular event of the year. Purchase your tickets in advance as this party always sells out early!Tickets $100 per person ($60 for Club Chandon Prestige Members)

The 13th United Nations Association Film Festival (UNAFF) was founded by Stanford educator and film critic Jasmina Bojic with the participation of the Stanford Film Society and United Nations Association Midpeninsula Chapter--a grassroots, community-based, nonprofit organization. The 13th UNAFF will be held from October 22-31 2010 in Palo Alto, Stanford University, East Palo Alto and San Francisco. The theme for this year is “POPULATION – MIGRATION – GLOBALIZATION.” More information and the schedule can be found here.

The Journal of American College Nutrition reports Researchers at Penn State University believe a diet rich in walnuts and walnut oil may prepare the body to deal better with stress. Particularly:“People who show an exaggerated biological response to stress are at higher risk of heart disease,” said Sheila G. West, associate professor of biobehavioral health at Penn State. “We wanted to find out if omega 3-fatty acids from plant sources would blunt cardiovascular responses to stress. Previous studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids, like the alpha linolenic acid found in walnuts and flax seeds, can reduce low density lipoproteins — better known as bad cholesterol.The researchers found that including walnuts and walnut oil in a diet lowered both resting blood pressure and blood pressure responses to stress in the laboratory." See the article here.

Accelerating the agricultural focus of the Sustainability Index, beginning with a Sustainable Produce Assessment for top producers in its Global Food Sourcing network in 2011;

investing more than $1 billion in its global fresh supply chain in the next five years; and,

Reducing food waste in its emerging market stores and clubs by 15 percent and by 10 percent in stores and clubs in its other markets by the end of 2015.

Requiring sustainably sourced palmoil for all Walmart private brand products globally by the end of 2015. Sourcing sustainable palm oil for our U.K. and U.S. private brand products alone will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5 million metric tons by the end of 2015.

It is estimated that 60 percent of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon is related to cattle ranching expansion.

In India, sourcing 50 percent of its fresh produce through its Direct Farm Program;

I've been hearing great things about Coconut Bliss Frozen Desserts, and I'm a huge fan of coconut and fresh coconut water from a young coconut. Luna Marcus and Larry Kaplowitz, creators and owners of Coconut Bliss, met in 2002 at the Lost Valley Educational Center, a land based non-profit in Dexter, Oregon. After giving up dairy for health and ethical reasons, Luna and Larry were finding themselves unsatisfied with soy- and rice- based ice cream alternatives. Luna had used coconut milk in a lot of Thai cooking and it seemed an ideal base for a non- dairy ice cream. After a few trial and error attempts, in late 2004, Luna & Larry finally came up with the perfect recipe, free of dairy, gluten and soy and sweetened only with agave syrup. The companyʼs name “Luna & Larryʼs Coconut Bliss” was established shortly thereafter.Perhaps you've heard about the health benefits of coconut which includes potassium. Coconut oil is a saturated fat, but it's different from the saturated fats in animal products that contain cholesterol and promote heart disease. Animal fats have long chain fatty acids which takes longer for our bodies to break down and are more likely to lodge in arteries and be stored as fat. Coconut oil contains medium chain fatty acids which our bodies can break down and use for energy. Coconut Bliss' website mentions this site for further information. http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org

Party Season is here! If you're looking for innovative baked snacks for your parties or work, check out Pretzel Crisps which come in fun flavors like Garlic, Sesame, and Everything (Poppy Seeds, Sesame Seeds, Onions, and Galic). There's also Original Style for folks who are happy with the basic pretzel flavor. Do you have a favorite dip or topping for your pretzels? Please share it here in the comments.

For those who are on the go and don't have the time to stop for fresh fruit, here's a delicious product calledFruitaBu Smooshed Rolls where each roll equates to 1 fruit serving, and it comes in 3 flavors: Grape, Strawberry, and Apple. For the Gratitude Gourmet readers with children, the box's interior has kid's activities on the carton itself - what a great way to dual purpose this product!

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) just released it's Living Planet Indexreflecting the overall health of our planet's biodiversity. Since 1970, the global Living Planet Index has fallen by 30%.Before I left my Corporate job in mid 2008 to actively start my environmental work, I researched the climate and environmental data and took vacation time to attend several scientific conferences, including UCLA's 2007 Evolutionary Change in Human Altered Environments, and these Scientists from around the world were already talking about significant species loss.The WWF 30% decline means that on average, species population sizes were 30% smaller in 2007 than in 1970. Specifically, there's a 35% fall for freshwater species, 25% fall for marine species, 24% fall for terrestrial species; a 60% fall for tropical species and a 29% rise for temperate species; and a 50% fall for low-income countries, 25% fall for middle income countries, and a 5% rise for high income countries.The Report also details the Actions we should take, and one of them is to eat less meat. I started Gratitude Gourmet in May 2008 to help evangelize the United Nations data that animal agriculture causes 18% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions which is more than overall transportation, and the importance of eating less meat. I was the only one that I knew of in my circles and in the media actively talking about this issue at the time in the United States. Eating less meat is the low-hanging fruit of helping people reduce their GHG - more than buying a Prius or solar panels. Most people can't afford a Prius and solar panels, but most people can adjust their diets. I also speak on Green IT, and IT emits 2% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. 18% Animal Agriculture vs 2% IT...huge difference in impact.Initially in 2008, when I spoke with people about the animal agriculture and greenhouse gas emission link, most people did not know this data. I spoke at many technology, branding, and entrepreneurial events evangelizing this concept. At a UC Berkeley Energy event, I asked Mary Nichols, the California Chair of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) during her speech Q&A if California was going to address the serious impact of Animal Agriculture emissions. After that question, I had a few Press people talk with me because it was the first time they heard of this data. As a result, the Press started writing articles about this topic. At the Fortune Brainstorm Green Conference where President Bill Clinton spoke on Earth Day 2009, I asked a senior McDonalds official questions during an Agriculture Panel about what his company was doing about the meat-carbon issue. I mentioned the UN data, Bon Appetit Management Company's meat and cheese reduction to reduce GHG emissions, and that UK hospitals are cutting meat to cut carbon. Because of my persistence on the issue, I was asked to speak at this year's 2010 Fortune Brainstorm Green on the Sustainable Agriculture subject but already committed to speaking in the UK about Green IT and Entrepreneurship. The Agriculture Session was held, and the issue of meat and carbon was finally on the radar of more people. I did speak at theNet Impact Conference at Cornell University last Fall '09 on Organic Agriculture and Sustainability, and I co-founded the Green Software Unconference Silicon Valley where I ensured there was only delicious vegetarian and vegan served (probably the 1st of it's kind in the world where a technology conference purposely served low carbon food).Here's an example where a single person can make a difference. Many of my readers have written to me that they are not vegetarian, but they have made changes in their diets and eating practices because of the data Gratitude Gourmet is sharing with the public. One non-vegetarian reader even had a vegetarian Thanksgiving!! Thank you readers and supporters; I really appreciate all the work you're doing! Getting back to the World Wildlife Fund Report, they have also produced a video called a Healthy Diet for a Healthy Planet, and it's below for your reference.

At the San Francisco Vegetarian Festival 2010, Dr. Fuhrman MD had 2 Sessions covering Obesity and Cancer.The First Session which I highly recommend is in this video, and notes from his second session on Cancer are also below. I really like Dr. Fuhrman's concept of "Nutritarian". Per Dr. Fuhrman, vegetarian, vegan, and meat-eater diets could all be unhealthy if you're not watching your nutrition. A Nutritarian puts knowledge and practice of Nutrition at the forefront. Also check out the surprising Vitamin D study below. (Note there is a short ad before the video starts, and then you'll see the video)

8. Folic acid is dangerous - Look for natural FolateGreen veggies have the power to reduce plaque from artery walls. Green veggies are necessary for women..folate..not folic acid.

9. Vitamin D is the most powerful anticancer substance in history. There was a recent study showing a 50% reduction of breast cancer in only 5 years with people taking Vitamin D. Cancer cells were already growing but stopped because of vitamin D.Lack of Vitamin D can cause Parkinsons. (Vitamin d2 is vegan.) Dr. Fuhrman also mentioned the importance of everyone getting their Vitamin D levels tested. He also talked about a patient of his that couldn't eat for a few years. Other doctors told him he had to have surgery to correct the problem. Dr. Fuhrman knew that digestive problems could be a result of low Vitamin D levels. As a result of Vitamin D testing, the patient had an extremelly low Vitamin D level and after Vitamin D supplementation was able to eat normally.

10. DHA and Cancer - There was a 30% reduction in prostate cancer occurrence in highest quartile of DHA intake.

At the recent San Francisco Vegetarian Festival, I spoke with Lauren Ornelas, Founder/Director of the Food Empowerment Project and Campaign Director of the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition. I saw Lauren speak in Washington D.C. a few years ago, and was pleased to see the wonderful work she is continuing to do. She showed me her latest Food Empowerment Project Study released in August 2010 showing Santa Clara County residents in lower-income communities and communities of color lack easy access to fresh fruits and vegetables.Founded in 2006, the Food Empowerment Project seeks to create a more just and sustainable world by recognizing the power of one's food choices. They encourage healthy food choices that reflect a more compassionate society by spotlighting the abuse of animals on farms, the depletion of natural resources, unfair working conditions for produce workers, and the unavailability of healthy foods in low-income areas. The Study: “Shining a Light on the Valley of Heart’s Delight” reveals that higher-income areas have more than twice as many large supermarkets per capita as lower-income areas. In contrast, the report shows that lower-income communities have nearly twice as many liquor stores and 50 percent more markets that sell an abundance of meat products; neither of these types of stores offers a variety of healthy food options, especially fresh fruits and vegetables.“With all of the wealth in Silicon Valley, it is unacceptable that certain communities do not have access to fruits, vegetables, and other healthy food alternatives,” says F.E.P’s Executive Director lauren Ornelas. “Such a food injustice can lead to a host of health problems, including type-2 diabetes and obesity. That this can happen in our own backyard is inexcusable. It’s really a form of environmental racism.”F.E.P. found that low-income households have virtually no access to organic produce in their communities. Moreover, F.E.P. discovered that plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy products (such as tofu, meat-free burgers, and soymilk) are extremely limited in these communities, where consumers do not have the same access to large supermarkets as do consumers in higher-income communities. “This is especially alarming when you consider that many people of color are lactose intolerant, so the lack of dairy alternatives has serious health implications,” says Ornelas. “In addition, the more that people learn about how farmed animals are treated, the more they want to avoid animal-based products in their diets.”

“What we found is an extreme inequity when it comes to nutritious foods,” says Ornelas. “Because communities of color and lower-income communities have about half the number of large supermarkets as their higher-income counterparts, for example, they have much less access to fruits and vegetables. As a result, consumers shopping for food in lower-income neighborhoods rely more on liquor stores and other retail businesses that don’t necessarily offer healthy options.”F.E.P. believes that the problem can be fixed by policymakers and communities combining their efforts, and the group’s report covers a variety of recommendations, such as including prices on produce and clarifying the federal North American Industry Classification System, which currently counts small retail outlets as grocery stores, even if they sell mostly alcohol and junk food. “Our goal is to work with the communities suffering the biggest food inequities,” says Ornelas. “We know that a more just food system in the U.S. is possible if everyone works together.”